Assistant Designer - Special Purchase - Womenswear, Menswear, Kids & Accessories

Working Pattern: This is a full-time, on-site role based at ‘The Barn’ Joules’s purpose-built Head Office in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. Typical working hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.

Our Location
Market Harborough in Leicestershire is where the Joules story began back in 1989. This vibrant market town is home to our Head Office and offers a great selection of independent shops, bars, and restaurants. It also benefits from excellent transport links to London and surrounding areas, making it convenient for commuters and visitors alike.

The Role
Step into the role of an Assistant Designer for Special Purchase! Discover an exciting opportunity to take on an integral role here at Joules Head Office.

Your focus will span across Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, and Accessories! You will be utilising your exceptional taste level to create versatile designs that reflect the latest market trends while keeping the unique Joules brand identity at the heart of everything you create.

What You’ll Take On

• Support the planning and creation of a compelling vision for Special Purchase ranges across Womenswear, Menswear, Kids, and Accessories, bringing fresh ideas and proposals for newness.
• Create inspiring mood boards that reflect key design influences, seasonal trends, and colour palettes to present and sell design concepts to wider product teams.
• Identify new product opportunities and commercial avenues across multiple departments, presenting confident proposals to your Line Manager and cross functional partners.
• Collaborate closely with Buying and Garment Technology to ensure design prototypes accurately represent your vision while meeting quality and cost standards.
• Leverage your knowledge of suppliers to assist in evaluating and building an effective supplier base for your product areas.
• Work with Technical teams to determine the most efficient methods of sample production, sharing recommendations with your Line Manager and product teams.
• Regularly monitor the performance and retail impact of your ranges by staying connected with store teams and product management to inform future proposals.

What You’ll Bring
To stand out in this role, you’ll need to work with flexibility and speed, bring a genuine passion for fashion, and hold a clear understanding of lifestyle brand positioning. Beyond your technical capabilities, we value mindset and values most.

Cultural Fit

• A strong passion for fashion, retail, and lifestyle brands.
• A drive to work collaboratively in a fast paced team that loves delivering results.
• High creative energy, fresh perspectives, and a willingness to share bold ideas.
• A growth mindset, open to learning from setbacks and adapting continuously.
• Genuine enthusiasm for the Joules brand and a positive approach to change.

Technical & Operational Strengths

• Previous experience in an Assistant Designer or similar role within a lifestyle or fashion retail brand.
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and PLM software, including experience creating detailed technical drawings, BOMs, and tech packs.
• Background in sample coordination, swatch logging, and maintaining organised design archives.
• Experience working cross functionally with Print Design, Accessories teams, and Pattern Cutters.
• Solid commercial awareness with clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage tight timelines across multi category product lines.

Your Application
Due to the high volume of applications received for our roles, please note that applications not accompanied by a relevant portfolio and cover letter are unlikely to be progressed.

Sponsorship
Candidates wishing to apply who would require sponsorship for this role will be required to meet the Home Office sponsorship requirements. 
We encourage early applications for our roles, as our recruitment process begins as soon as the role is advertised. If we successfully fill the position, this advert may close earlier than planned.

At NEXT, we believe the best work happens when there are no barriers to collaboration. That’s why we are a Google-powered workspace. From your very first day, you’ll be using the full Google Workspace suite; Docs, Drive, and Meet, to stay connected and move fast.

If your previous experience is rooted in other software suites, don’t worry! We’ll point you to a digital Google toolkit the moment you join, packed with handy guides and insider tips to help you transition smoothly and hit the ground running.

Benefits

• 25% off most Joules, NEXT, MADE*, Lipsy*, Gap* and Victoria's Secret* products (*when purchased through NEXT)
• Up to 10% off most partner brands & Branded Beauty products
• Access to fantastic discounts at our staff shops
• Clothing Allowance
• One family day per year
• Reward Schemes - From a cycle to work scheme to discounts with nearly 1000 retailers
• Life assurance
• Pension
• Fantastic L&D opportunities
• A bold and vibrant place to work
• Free on-site Parking & low cost EV charging points

Conditions apply to all benefits. These benefits are discretionary and subject to change.

We aim to support all candidates during the application process and are happy to provide workplace adjustments when necessary. Should you need support with your application due to a disability or long-term condition, feel free to get in touch with us by email (please include 'Workplace Adjustments' in the subject line), or call us on 0116 284 2486 and leave a voicemail.